Afsi Touting Russian Letter in Opposing American Golan Role

July 22, 1994

NEW YORK (Jul. 21)

In an unusual twist, Americans for a Safe Israel has been touting a recent letter written by an archnationalist and allegedly anti-Semitic Russian parliamentarian opposing an American peacekeeping role in any Israeli-Syrian accord.

The letter revolves around the issue that has emerged as the central lobbying issue by opponents of the Israeli government in Washington and, now, it would seem, in Moscow: the possible stationing of American troops on the Golan Heights in the event a peace accord is reached between Israel and Syria.

According to AFSI, the objections of Nikolai Lysenko, described by the Jewish organization as “an outspoken conservative” Russian parliamentarian, stem from his “Russian nationalism.”

Lysenko led 51 members of the Russian Parliament in writing to Russia’s foreign minister on the issue, according to AFSI.

What AFSI did not mention, however, is that Lysenko’s brand of Russian nationalism has some Jews distinctly worried.

According to Leonid Stonov of the Union of Councils, an organization which monitors anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union, Lysenko has called for Jews to be thrown out of Russian political and economic life.

In an article appearing in what Stonov described as an “extremely fascist and anti-Semitic” magazine, Lysenko warned that assimilated Jews and half-Jews are working to rule the Russian people, as part of a Masonic-Zionist conspiracy linked to American imperialism.

Herbert Zweibon, president of AFSI, said he did not know what prompted Lysenko to weigh in on the issue.

“Look, the word is out. Around the world, people are aware that there’s either an agreement or a pending agreement,” said Zweibon.